The only blinds you need to know about

It's no secret  that blinds are making a comeback. Now available in all kinds of styles and patterns, here's how to pick blinds that could change any room's look.

• Blinds are commercially-made window coverings that can have either vertical or horizontal slats, an accordion or honeycomb construction, or are woven from natural or synthetic reeds.
• The mechanisms for opening and closing blinds range from simple cords and easy-to-operate continuous chains to remote-controlled electronic devices.
• Familiarize yourself with the different types of blinds and their mechanics before you choose what's right for your windows and home.

• Blinds are available in a wide variety of stock sizes and colours, plus unlimited custom sizes and styles.
• Unlike other window coverings, blinds let you control the direction and amount of natural light while providing some small degree of insulation.
• Some blind styles will adjust to allow a breeze to flow from the window into the room by tilting or raising the slats.

• Vertical slats are available in vinyl, aluminum, wood, non-woven fabric or laminated and  custom fabrics.
• Vertical slats measure seven to ten centimetres, or three to four inches, wide.
• Since they draw completely to one side, vertical slats are a good choice for sliding glass doors and large plate glass windows.

• Also called Venetian blinds, these blinds can come in wood, aluminum or vinyl.
• Mini-blinds are 2.5 centimetres wide.
• The visible cloth tape or cord on the left and right sides, plus strings running through the blinds, usually match in colour, and can be customized.

• Accordion blinds are connected to horizontal slats that are usually 2.5 centimetres wide or more.
• The honeycomb style has two or more such layers connected.
• Both styles are available in non-woven fabrics, and in various colours and thicknesses.

Made from natural-fibre reeds from grasses or bamboo, or synthetics like vinyl, these blinds are laid horizontally and woven together to produce a semi-transparent blind that rolls up from the bottom. They're inexpensive sun-blockers and perfect for a porch or sunroom.

Blinds offer you control and colours that other window coverings often can't rival. So if you want something funky or just plain functional, one of these sets of blinds could be just what you need.